Maicer Izturis underwent surgery on his right shoulder, an operation that’s expected to end the infielder’s 2015 season and may signal the end of his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Izturis injured his shoulder on May 23 while rehabbing from the right groin strain that sidelined him for the beginning of the 2015 season. It’s been a challenging couple of years for the 34-year-old, who hasn’t appeared in a game for the Blue Jays since tearing a ligament in his knee while falling down the dugout steps in April of 2014.
The Blue Jays signed Izturis to a three-year, $10-million free agent contract in November of 2012. The deal — the largest free agent signing under GM Alex Anthopoulos at the time — covers the 2013-15 seasons and includes a $3-million option for 2016 with a $1-million buyout. The Blue Jays don’t have to decide on the option until after the season, but it would be a shock if they exercise it.
The emergence of Devon Travis, who’s now rehabbing with triple-A Buffalo and still on track to re-join the Blue Jays within the week, gives the Blue Jays a potential long-term solution at second base. Ryan Goins will remain with the team as a utility player when Travis returns from a shoulder injury of his own, manager John Gibbons said Thursday. At that point, or potentially before, the Blue Jays expect to revert to a seven-man bullpen to accommodate a bigger bench.
When the Blue Jays signed Izturis he had a career OPS of .718 and was viewed as a versatile switch-hitter capable of handling second base or filling in around the infield as needed. But injuries limited him to 118 total games with Toronto, and he batted just .240/.291/.310 while appearing at second base, third base and shortstop.
Since Izturis is on the 60-day disabled list he doesn’t count against the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster.
